Rough draft
Philosopher Baba Dium once wrote, "We only conserve what we love, we only love what we understand, we only understand what we know, we only know what we are taught." Eddie Lama, featured in a documentary called "The Witness", describes a miracle as "a change of perception".
A few precedents have been set for introducing animal issues into the consciousness and the mission of the Church. The Anglican Society for the Welfare of Animals has been in existence for about 30 years in the UK. Theologians and pastors of various denominations are adding a credible Christian voice to the animal rights "movement". F.A.W.N., a secular organization in England, published a pamphlet about battery hens four years ago. What was astounding about this pamphlet was the front cover, which quoted a statement regarding the treatment of factory farmed animals by the Rt. Rev. Richard Llewellin (currently, the Bishop at Lambeth), and the back cover, filled with signatures of 31 other bishops who endorsed his statement. The Church of England’s website lists their official views on a wide range of animal issues.
It is easy to care about the animals we know and can relate to most, like the "pets" who share our homes. It is easy to believe that most animals live reasonably happy lives. But is not as easy to identify with, or care about the billions of nameless, faceless animals who are used in so many ways as profitable commodities; whose very torment fuels our economy and preserves jobs in many fields – hence the "sacred cows" of our civilization. It is extremely difficult for sensitive people to look at pictures or undercover video footage of laboratory animals; unprofitable male chicks left to die in dumpsters; calves confined in veal crates, battery cages, and gestation crates, overcrowded in factory farms; animals caught in traps or kept in small wire cages to be executed for their pelts; exotic retired zoo animals shot in cold blood for trophies in canned hunts; animals waiting their turn to be slaughtered on the kill floors; "downers" too sick or injured to walk, being dragged by chains, scooped up by fork lifts, or left to die. It is difficult to wrap our minds around the more than one million land animals (mostly chickens) who are killed without remorse in this country every hour, just to keep up with consumer demand, not nearly as "humanely" as it would comfort consumers to believe. Sensitive people may find these topics too "upsetting" to think about too deeply. By not bearing witness to the unprotected, undefended suffering of these animals, we insulate our feelings while turning our backs on the horrors they face in their underworld hidden from public view, victims of human greed, covetousness and absolute power – victims of those who are considered to be created in the image of God. And some even use the Bible, or people like Thomas Aquinas who have shaped the theology we’ve inherited, to justify our right to use animals any way we please.
Authors like Andrew Linzey (Anglican priest, professor and theologian), J.R. Hyland, Norm Phelps, Stephen Webb, Gary Kowalski, and Keith Akers are examples of pioneers in the field of biblically-based theology regarding our ethical duties toward animals, They tackle the mixed messages of the Bible and the theologies we’ve inherited in unique ways that should make sense to anyone who believes in a compassionate God Each has different insights and flavor. But together they tackle topics not sufficiently addressed by others in the past, presenting a "theology as if animals mattered". These authors are known and respected among the secular world of animal advocacy Their messages deserve to be read and reflected upon by practicing Christians, as well. Whether or not we really live in a "post-Christian era", churches have a strong influence in shaping world views.
In "The Gospel for Every Creature", Andrew Linzey wrote, "Far from being a little issue, animals have become a litmus test of whether we really believe in a God who is great enough to transform the evil in the world.... I believe that Christians are called to be authentic signs of the Gospel for which all creatures long. However, the churches who should be leaders in the movement for the protection of animals are not even in the procession.... Christian indifference has contributed to a state of near despair about the plight of animals.." And in Animal Gospel, he wrote "…Arguably within the Christian tradition at least, animal rights insights are correctives to a tradition which has failed to reflect sufficiently creatively on some of its own most cherished ideas." May those statements be understood as an exhortation, and not an indictment, because the future is the only thing we can hope to change. May we be the hope of the world!
This rough draft was submitted to The Living Church, and was edited for publication in their October 6th(?), 2002 issue in an article called "Animal Advocates", which is not available on-line. (Their article archives go through 2000.) Otherwise, I would link to the final version.
While looking for highlighted links to use as "footnotes", I came across some drawings by Sue Coe:
And speaking of animal art, here is a page from another artist:
http://www.myanimalart.com/artlib.html
(Some of the originals are available for purchase. Prints are available on EBay.)
